‘There’s no secrets’ — Phillies at Braves NLDS Game 2 Preview
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The Phillies have an opportunity tonight to head back to Philadelphia with all the momentum in their favor, and one win is all they need. Conveniently, the Phils have their ace on the bump and just one more game in Atlanta before returning to Philadelphia.
Here is the Phillies’ starting lineup for game two:
- DH Kyle Schwarber
- SS Trea Turner
- 3B Alec Bohm
- 1B Bryce Harper
- C J.T. Realmuto
- RF Nick Castellanos
- 2B Bryson Stott
- LF Cristian Pache
- CF Johan Rojas
Slated to face Max Fried, today’s game could go in a plethora of directions. On September 12, Fried allowed just one run on four hits while striking out six over five innings of work. However, the Phillies found success vs. Fried in the 2022 playoffs, and he is experiencing a blister issue on his throwing hand, further complicating the Braves’ pitching situation with Charlie Morton out for the season.
“I’ve faced this Phillies team just about more than anyone in my career. They know what I have; I know what they have. There’s no secrets. It’s just toeing the rubber and executing and throwing the pitches I need to,” Fried said.
With Fried being a lefty, Rob Thomson opted to start righty Christian Pache in left field, who recorded a clutch RBI single in game one of the Wild Card series. Given how much Pache has struggled against right-handed pitching, expect to see Brandon Marsh pinch-hit when the Braves turn to a right-handed reliever.
Here is the Braves’ starting lineup for game two:
- RF Ronald Acuna Jr.
- 2B Ozzie Albies
- 3B Austin Riley
- 1B Matt Olson
- DH Marcell Ozuna
- C Travis d’Arnaud
- LF Eddie Rosario
- SS Orlando Arcia
- CF Michael Harris II
The Phillies are sending ace Zack Wheeler, who allowed just one run in seven innings in the Phillies’ game-one win over Miami, to the hump for game two, looking to give the Phils’ offense an added advantage over the blistered Max Fried. In fact, in seven career playoff starts, Zack Wheeler has allowed two or fewer runs in five of those.
In his last start, Wheeler struck out eight and had his sharpest fastball of the season, which came at the perfect time. During the regular season, Wheeler posted a 3.32 ERA in three starts against the Braves, with one of those starts being an eight-inning shutout on May 27.
Wheeler’s biggest challenge tonight will be working around Acuna, Jr., and d’Arnuad, who have a .609 and .571 slugging percentage against him, respectively.
With a win tonight, the Phillies would return to Philadelphia with two chances to clinch a trip to the NLCS before having to come back to Atlanta for a potential game five. Aaron Nola is scheduled to start game three, the first of two at Citizens Bank Park.
Can the Phillies go 2-0 today?